Chainsaw Man chapter 169: Barem teases Nayuta's safety as Public Safety strikes back against Denji and co

Modified Jun 25, 2024 19:08 GMT

Chainsaw Man chapter 169: Barem teases Nayuta's safety as Public Safety strikes back against Denji and co (Image via MAPPA Studios)

Chainsaw Man chapter 169 was expected to finally conclude Denji and co’s journey to the Sushishi restaurant, seeing them finally enjoy a meal before Denji and War Devil Yoru’s fight. Officially released on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, the issue sees the group finally sit down to eat, but the story doesn’t quite progress from there as fans wanted.

Likewise, Chainsaw Man chapter 169 does set up a major fight for Denji in the subsequent issue, but not in a bout against Yoru as fans had previously thought. Instead, the issue sees Barem Bridge return, with some exciting news about Nayuta and some unfortunate news on their current shared situation in tow.

Chainsaw Man chapter 169 sees Barem Bridge confirm he has Control Devil Nayuta, teases her safety

Chainsaw Man chapter 169: Contemplation and action

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Chainsaw Man chapter 169 begins with Denji’s group entering Sushishi, sitting down at a bar in front of the conveyor belt line. Denji is seen looking around at the other patrons, all happy, smiling, and laughing while chowing down on sushi. Denji wonders if they’ve all experienced something similar to what he just did with Yoru/Asa Mitaka, before telling Pochita that so much awful stuff has happened that he wants to die.

He then contemplates the seemingly endless sushi flowing before his eyes, and what he got to experience via Yoru/Asa. While he admits that it wasn’t physically as good as taking care of it himself, for lack of a better term, he admits it did make his heart feel really nice. He then questions if he’s happy or unhappy right now, with Asa seemingly noticing him contemplating something and blushing while looking at him.

Chainsaw Man chapter 169 sees Asa ask Famine Devil Fami if she can wait outside since there’s nothing she can eat there. Fami answers, but it’s impossible to understand her since she speaks with her mouth full. Haruka Iseumi then questions if it’s okay for them to enjoy a nice meal without Nail Fiend and Seigi Akoku, who are watching the hide-out for them.

Iseumi then notices Nobana Higashiyama isn’t actually eating any sushi, saying he isn’t doing so since he doesn’t know if he’ll have to pay for it or not. Iseumi calls Nobana weird, but Nobana says he’s not as weird as Asa. He bases this on her having lost an arm but still seeming the same as always, saying he’d cry for a week if he lost an arm.

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Chainsaw Man chapter 169 sees someone sit down next to Nobana while telling him it’s the same as animals. This is revealed to be Barem Bridge, who explains that animals don’t get sad when they lose a limb, but instead simply adapt for survival’s sake. Barem then remembers that Devils aren’t supposed to feel sadness either, while Iseumi recognizes Barem.

Nobana doesn’t, prompting Iseumi to shout he’s the Chainsaw Man Church’s second-in-command, which catches Denji’s attention. Upon realizing who Barem is, Denji stands up with chopsticks in hand and moves to strike Barem. However, he says he’ll take him to Control Devil Nayuta if he keeps quiet and sits down next to him.

Chainsaw Man chapter 169 sees Denji begrudgingly sit next to Barem, who begins giving him advice for eating the sushi. However, a deathly serious Denji instead asks him point blank where Nayuta is. Barem seems shocked or reluctant to answer at first before eventually revealing that Public Safety is waiting for them outside with the building surrounded.

He adds that as soon as they head outside after their sushi, they’ll both be dismembered, which shocks Iseumi and Nobana. Barem then says that if Denji saves them, he’ll let him see Nayuta. This immediately catches Denji’s attention, who asks Barem what he needs to do to save him. However, the issue ends with Barem handing Denji a plate of egg sushi and telling him that he must first eat it.

Chainsaw Man chapter 169: In summation

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While Barem isn’t quite as direct regarding Nayuta’s status in Chainsaw Man chapter 169 as fans would’ve hoped, he does essentially all but confirm that she is alive. While Fujimoto could be setting readers up for a major subversion of expectations via Nayuta’s death, this seems unlikely as of this article’s writing for how much negative development it would give Denji.

However, before that fans will seemingly be getting a large, sprawling action sequence featuring the titular hero for the first time in what feels like forever. Although Fujimoto may end things before Denji can fight, it seems all but certain as of this article’s writing considering Barem’s claim of Public Safety having Sushishi surrounded.